5 Top Reasons Why Medical Office Managers Have the Best Job – 12/17/2014

Fast-paced healthcare environments are often stressful, yet it’s the medical office manager’s job to keep the operations of the practice, department, or facility running efficiently at all times. Doing so requires a special type of professional, one who excels under pressure, communicates effectively, and can balance the tangible as well as intangible needs of both patients and staff. Does this sound like you? If so, then you are well suited for this exciting career—and one of the best opportunities in the healthcare industry. Consider these five reasons why medical office managers have the best job.

1. Predicted Job Growth for Medical Office Managers is Impressive

In 2010, there were 303,000 medical and health services managers in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment of these professionals is expected to grow 22 percent between 2010 and 2020, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This is an increase of 68,000 jobs. Why is there such an impressive surge in demand? The answer is simple: our growing aging population. Elderly Americans require more healthcare and healthcare facilities—along with more medical office managers to run them.

2. Medical Office Managers Earn Excellent Salaries

The median annual salary of medical and health services managers, including medical office managers, was $84,270 in 2010, according to the BLS. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $51,280, while the top 10 percent received more than $144,880. Actual earnings vary by type of facility, size of facility, and level of responsibility.

For example, median salary for medical office managers in practices with up to six physicians was $86,459 in 2010. Professionals working in practices with seven to 25 physicians earned an average of $115,000, while those employed by practices with 26 or more physicians made an average of $150,756 a year.

3. Every City and State Needs Medical Office Managers

According to the BLS, 39 percent of medical and health service managers, including medical office managers, work in hospitals. Nine percent work in physician offices, while 7 percent are employed in nursing care facilities, 6 percent in home health care, and 5 percent in outpatient care centers. These establishments are located in virtually every city and state in the country. This means you can find a medical office manager job no matter where you live—and should you eventually choose to relocate, you can easily take your career with you.

4. You Will Use a Variety of Skills as a Medical Office Manager

To succeed as a medical office manager, you must use skills in organization and attention to detail. You will have the opportunity to exercise your communication abilities daily, along with conflict resolution and the management of a variety of personalities. You can expect to solve problems and handle issues that arise between doctors, nurses, non-clinical staff members, and patients. Plus, you get to develop a basic understanding of all the non-clinical aspects of the practice in case you need to fill in. This means learning everything from reception and scheduling to coding and billing.

5. No Two Days are Alike as a Medical Office Manager

Medical practice management is not a boring job. On any given day, you may interview potential employees, negotiate a contract, and create staff schedules. It’s your responsibility to juggle priorities, increase practice efficiency, and even manage the budget. Not to mention ensuring the organization complies with the latest laws and regulations. If you love a new challenge, then medical practice management is definitely for you.